Mo's Best Friend

Charming story of a stone-age family who discover the first dog – inspired by real prehistoric cave art.

Mo lives in a cave with Ma and Pa, Grumma, Gruppa and baby Babba, in the Stone Age. One day Mo hears a ‘yip’ coming from a bush. She knows that wild beasts are dangerous but this one is in trouble, with a thorn in its paw. Mo takes out the thorn and the little beast becomes her friend. They play together all day. But Mo’s family are horrified – surely the wild beast will hurt baby Babba. They chase away the little animal – and then, disaster! Babba is missing. Has the wild beast taken him – or will Mo’s friend save Baby Babba from a hungry lynx? By the end of the day, the whole Stone Age family has a new friend and they call it… DOG!

This delightful story for young children is inspired by an astonishing recent discovery in the famous Chauvet Cave in France. The footprint of a young child has been found in the cave, with the paw-print of a dog beside it – from 26,000 years ago!

"Both an engaging story and a fun history lesson about Stone Age life and the domestication of dogs."

'This engaging picture book brings the Stone Age to life... There's an illustrated Stone Age survival skills appendix that will be useful for cross-curricular teaching, the spectacularly atmospheric illustrations will provide the perfect impetus for art ideas, and literary teachers will appreciate the onomatopoeia and expressive language. Highly recommended.' 

"Inspired by the discovery of a child’s footprint alongside a dog’s in the Chauvet cave, this immersive, beautifully illustrated picture book tells a sweet tale of stone age family life – and a new four-footed addition."

"Bridget Marzo’s scenes of the simple hunter/gatherer lifestyle of the family group are executed in gouache, and the ochre hues employed are true to the archaeological evidence and cave paintings from 25 thousand years ago."

"...I love the intimate sequence of Mo’s first encounter with the little wild beast and their subsequent animated frolicsome play of fetch and return of Mo’s stick. Bridget Marzo uses natural and earth colours for her illustrations with ochre predominating, adding authenticity to her portrayal of the story."

"Mo finds a new four-legged friend in this energetic and accurate story about Stone Age life and the domestication of dogs."

Bridget Marzo has a Catalan mother and an English father. She graduated from Kings College, Cambridge and went on to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. For many years she lived and worked in France. Her first children’s books were published in 1990 and since then her children’s books have been since then her books have been published all over the world. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and enjoys giving workshops in illustration to schools and other organisations. She divides her time between France and Cambridge.

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